Sled construction



Aug. 29, 1950 R. s. STONE SLED CONSTRUCTION Filed March lO, 1947 www); lf

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' NVENTOR. @152% ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

l This invention relates to a sled or similar runner supported vehicle and to a joint which nds .one useful application in such articles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved sled which will steer easily.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which will be extremely strong and durable.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which will be light.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which will be composed of few and simple parts.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which may be easily produced.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which will present a minimum of resistance toward forward movement even when making turns.

Another object is to provide an improved sled which will be neat and attractive in appearance.

Another object is to provide an improved joint which will permit ready and easy iiexure of an elongated article such as a sled runner.

Another object is to provide an improved joint which will present a smooth and continuous surface in any positon.

Another object is to provide an improved joint which will be extremely durable.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from .Y

one practical embodiment thereof, illustrated in .the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a small sled embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the sled of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary central transverse sectional views of the joint and the runners of the sled taken on the line Ill-III of Figure 2.

The sled shown consists of two parallel runners, each comprising a rear part having straight horizontal bottom tubular portion I, the rear end of which is bent upwardly as indicated at 2 and then forwardly as shown at 3 for connection to the carrying platform. The forward ends of the lower tubular portion I and the upper tubular portion 3 are connected by a semi-circular strut 4, which is shown as attached to these parts by welding 5.

Supported on the two upper tubular portions 3, upon transverse bars or beams 5 and 1, is the passenger carrying platform, shown as made of two relatively wide boards 8 and 9, and at the extreme ends of the bars 6 and 'I are fixed two grips or hand rails I0.

The runner portions I terminate at theiry for- `ward ends at llexible joints which connect them with the two forward tubular runner portions II and I2, the lower portions of which are straight and normally axially in alignment with tubular portions I, and the foremost ends of these for- -ward runner parts are bowed upwardly and connected-by a cross bar I3 pivoted by bolts I 4 to the ends of the runner sections II and I2.

The cross bar I3 has secured to it a projecting lug I5, to which is pivoted, by a bolt I6, the intersecting portion of a steering unit consisting of laterally extending handle bars Il and a rearwardly extending link I8, the latter being pivoted to cross bar l by 9, bolt I9.

The handle bars Il and link I8 conveniently are made of metaltubing welded together, and the bars may be provided with rubber or similar 'grips 20. f

The joints between the tubular runner sections I, II and I2 are most clearly7 illustrated in Figure 3,'which shows the two tubular sections on one side of the sled connected by a helical tension spring 2I secured to tubular section l by means of a'horizontal transverse pin or rivet 22 and to forward runner part I2 by a similar pin or rivet 23.

yThis spring is of a diameter to t loosely within the vendsl ofthe tubular runner members, and

is surrounded by a helical compression spring 24,

preferably made of flat stock with the convolutions wound very close together, the exterior of these convolutions presenting an almost unbroken continuation of the outer surface of tubes I and II (or I2).

The tension on spring 2l causes the ends of the tubular sections I and II (or I 2) to press tightly upon the ends of spring 2d, somewhat compressing the spring, and iirmly locating it in place, and it will be appreciated that this holding of the outer spring 24 will be still more effective if the external diameter of spring 2l is very close to the internal diameter of spring 24.

The spaces between the convolutions of spring 24 are so narrow that no substantial amount of snow or dirt can penetrate into them, but the runner in passing over the snow will present to all practical intents a smooth cylindrical surface from the fore part of section II (or I2) to the rear of the runner part I.

The cylindrical continuous surface of the runners and joints moreover distributes the weight of the sled and rider over the snow so that unit pressures are relatively low and the runners do not tend to dig in unless the snow be extremely soft.

When it is desired to steer the sled to either side, the handles 20 are swung in the direction the rider Wishes to go, for example, to the left as shown in Figure 2 and this of course moves runner sections II and I2 to the left With relation to runner sections I. The spring joints between the runner sections bend into smooth curves, as clearlyshownv in Figure 2', keeping the frictionalresistance-'between therunners` and-fthe snow to a minimum, and preventing any substantial loss of speed.

When the rider releases pressure oir the han'- dles, the springs assist in returning theY runner parts to straight ahead position.

The stiiness of the springsv when held this manner permits the flexible joint to carry a substantial part of the weight of the sled and rider Without bowing upwardly to any noticeable degree,.while the jointv is suiiiciently flexible that it may readily be bent for steeringpurposes, it being noted, that the arrangementH of the handlebars I'l and I8 is suchasto apply a very large leverage in. steering, due to the distance; ofz the hand on grips 20 Vfromthepivot bolt I9.

While I have described the illustrated embodiment. ofv my4 invention. in some partcularty; obviously many other embodiments, variations, and modifications will. readily. occur to; those skilled in, this art, and do not, therefore,- limit myself to, the .precise detailsshown and described herein, butcl'aimas my invention all embodiments, modications and variations,coming Within thel scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A joint including two; tubular members arranged substantially endto end, av tension spring extending into the adjacent endsgofr both members ,andfastened thereto, the adjacent ends being spaced apart, aexible covering interposed between said ends-v of saidfmembers-surrounding said. tension spring andv held under compression between said, ends, bythe tension ofn said spring, the. exterior. oi. the ilexible covering forming a substantial continuation. of the surfaces of said tubular members.

2. A joint includingv twor tubularv members arranged substantially end. to end with theirfends spaced apart, ahelical coil tension spring extending into the adjacent. ends of both members and fastened. thereto, a. flexible,- covering.A interposed between the. ends of. the members surrounding 3. A joint including two tubular members' arranged substantially end to end with their ends spaced apart, a helical coil tension spring extending into the adjacent ends of both members and fastened thereto, a flexibleihelical/coil the outer surface off' the convolutions of` which: are ilat, said coil being interposed between the ends of the members and surrounding the tension spring, the exterior of the outer helical coil forming a substantial continuation of the surfaces of said tubular' members, the outer helical coil being maintainedunder compression by the tension of the helical spring. f

4, A joint including two tubular members arranged substantially Yend to end with their ends spaced. apart', ahelicalI coi-ltension spring extending: intow theadj'acent ends of. bothmembers and fastened thereto, aflexible helicalcoil each convolution oi" which isv normally in contact with adjacent convoluti'ons'.and:v the outer surface of the convolutions'of which are flat; said' coil being interposed between thel ends.' of the mem-bers and surrounding the tension spring, the exterior of the outer helical coil forming aj'substantial continuation of' the surfaces of-v saidl tubular` members*1 the outer helical coill being maintained under" compression by thetension'. of the helical spring.

ROBERT S. STONE.

REFERENCES CITED-| The following references are ofv record inlthe le of" thisy patent:`

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,204,582. Manningv et al Nov. 14, 1916 1,790,500Y Fischerv Jan. 27,1931 2,134,197 Miller ont. 25,1938 2,183,638 Bowen. et al Dec; 19, 1939 2,222,146 Jonsson Nov. 19,- 1940 2,305,703 Smith Dec. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS.

:Number Country Datey 5,133- Great. BritainY 19,12 517,474 France May'., 1921 

